Preparation and thermophysical properties of La2(Zr0.7Ce0.3)2O7 ceramic via sol-gel process

► LZ7C3 nanopowders keep a pyrochlore structure in the calcination temperature from 1000 to 1500 °C. ► The nano-sized LZ7C3 shows an excellent thermostability after long-term annealing at 1400 °C. ► The lattice parameter has a close relationship with the sintering temperature. ► Compared with LZ and 8YSZ, LZ7C3 exhibits lower relative density and higher sintering resistance.